Which Microsoft Project Training Format Is Right for Me?

Microsoft Project is the industry-standard in project management software. Aspiring Project Managers must demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Project to potential employers. When comparing types of Microsoft Project training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the proper training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to learn more about the different formats of Microsoft Project training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is the project management software in the Microsoft Office suite of programs. Microsoft Project is the world's most widely-used project management software and has been since its release. MS Project currently has around a 66% project management software market share. Proficiency in Microsoft Project is a must-have skill for aspiring Project Managers. 

Project management is a booming field: the number of Project Manager jobs is expected to increase by over 33% over the next five years. The Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that over 22 million new project management jobs will be created by 2027. Project management is growing rapidly because more companies recognize the need for professional help managing projects. However, there are already more Project Manager positions than employees trained in project management. 

Microsoft Project assists Project Managers in prioritizing tasks, defining expectations, delegating tasks, tracking and managing resources, creating and tracking budgets, and sharing calendars with your team. Project also includes project management methodology tools, such as kanban boards and Gantt charts. Some of Project’s major features include tools for project planning, communication and collaboration, progress tracking and reporting, roadmaps for project tracking, financial management and timesheets, and resource management. 

Project is fully integrated with Microsoft Teams, allowing team members to share files, attend meetings, and chat easily. Its scheduling features are automatic, which can help teams stay on track with less direct supervision from the Project Manager. Project also incorporates the cutting-edge Microsoft Power BI dashboard, allowing project teams to visualize and analyze data in real-time. 

While Microsoft Project may seem easy to learn because of its familiar Microsoft Office interface, you will need to learn its advanced features to use it effectively. Senior Project Managers praise its power to manage multiple complex projects. Developing your ability to manage complex projects is the key to a successful career in project management. 

One of the biggest advantages of Microsoft Project is its full integration with other Microsoft Office programs. Microsoft Office is the most widely-used software suite in the world. If you’re serious about pursuing project management as a career, you’ll want to consider training in the entire suite of programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Read more about what Microsoft Project is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Microsoft Project?

Project management is a hot career path: the Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that over 22 million new Project Manager jobs will be created by 2027. Even without this 33% increase in job positions, there is already a significant talent gap in project management, with more companies seeking Project Managers than qualified candidates. 

Another perk of a career in project management is a high salary: the average salary for a Project Manager is around $116,000 annually. That is more than double the national average of approximately $50,000 across all occupations. Training in project management could lead to a lucrative career. 

Project Managers need to have many skills, including soft skills such as communication, leadership, and time management. Project Managers will also need to have advanced skills using Microsoft Project, the world’s most widely-used project management software tool, for decades. 

Microsoft Project is the industry-standard for managing complex and multiple projects. Its powerful project management features include interactive dashboards for project monitoring, integrated project timeline, task prioritization and delegation, team dashboard, report generation, resource tracking and management, and the Master Project Plan for managing multiple projects.

Training Formats for Microsoft Project

There are several different ways in which you can train in Microsoft Project. For example, there are instructor-led courses, both in-person and live online. There are also self-directed courses that you can complete on your own time. There are also free online resources that can help get you started. 

In-Person Microsoft Project Training

In-person classes are the most traditional form of training. There is nothing quite like learning in the same room with an expert and other interested students. In-person training is recommended for extroverts and people who want to be mentored. One perk is that you’ll get more personalized attention in an in-person class. 

A potential drawback of in-person classes might be the lack of availability in your area. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to check for in-person Microsoft Project courses in your area. This tool provides an excellent overview of the course options in your area. 

You'll want structured, highly reviewed courses if you’re planning to launch a new project management career. NYIM offers Microsoft Project training that is highly reviewed and time-tested; all of their courses are available in person at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan, or you can choose to enroll in a live online course. NYIM’s courses have guaranteed small class sizes, and graduates can use their “free retake” option to retake the course for free to refresh or further develop their skills. 

NYIM offers two levels of Microsoft Project training: an introductory Microsoft Project Level I to master the fundamentals and an advanced Microsoft Project Level II for managing more complex projects. Aspiring Project Managers can enroll in their comprehensive Project Management Bootcamp to study project management theories and concepts. 

New Horizons offers in-person Microsoft Project training at their campuses in most major American tech hubs, including New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Denver.

Live Online Microsoft Project Training

In-person Microsoft Project training doesn’t happen in every area. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve mastery of Microsoft Project. 

Online classes that are taught live work exactly like in-person classes. Because the course is live, you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You’ll have the ability to ask questions. You can collaborate with classmates or get feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. One major perk of live online classes is that they can be done anywhere, even in your bedroom.

NYIM offers live online Microsoft Project courses. Students develop foundational skills in using Microsoft Project and project management theories and concepts in their introductory Microsoft Project Level I course. An expert instructor guides students through real-world projects to develop skills in defining projects, creating tasks, resource management, and creating a project plan. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion, which is shareable on Linkedin.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re not quite ready to commit to taking an entire course in Microsoft Project, there are free introductory courses online. Because these courses are free, you’ll be able to see if project management appeals to you without investing the time and money for a complete course. 

Noble Desktop is a business, design, and coding school based in NYC. They offer free online seminars on various topics, including Microsoft Office. Project Managers use Microsoft Excel for budgeting projects, resource management, and creating charts and data visualizations. In Top 10 Beginner Excel Tricks You Need To Know, students learn essential tricks for harnessing more of the power of Microsoft Excel. Some tricks include creating charts, data validation, screenshots, navigation shortcuts, text and chart formatting, and tricks for streamlining your Excel workflow.

Free introductory Microsoft Project courses are typically uploaded to platforms like Udemy and YouTube. These courses can offer a great introduction to familiarizing yourself with the interface and features of Microsoft Project. 

Read about more free Microsoft Project videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

Live classes can happen in person and live online. Because these classes are happening live, you’ll be able to ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. If you’re someone who likes the interaction of a traditional course, you’ll want to choose a live option. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool will show you in-person and live online Microsoft Project classes. 

A second option for training in Microsoft Project is on-demand and self-paced courses. These courses are typically more structured than teaching yourself but lack a live course's interaction, camaraderie, and mentoring. Linkedin and Udemy offer on-demand Microsoft Project courses which cover the basics, but you won’t be able to ask questions. 

Comparison of Microsoft Project Training Formats

Live classes are the most engaging way to learn Microsoft Project, whether live online or in person. Since the class is happening live, you’ll be able to ask questions and receive feedback, receive mentoring on your resume and portfolio, and network with other professional and aspiring Project Managers. 

Networking is a vast advantage of in-person classes. You’ll have the opportunity to talk to your instructor and classmates to build relationships. You could also have access to a state-of-the-art computer lab and any software you might need. For example, having access to a lab with Microsoft Project could save you the money to purchase a program license. However, to take an in-person course, you'll need to find one in your area and commute. These could be potential drawbacks of in-person training. 

Live online classes have all the features of in-person courses: you can ask questions and interact with your instructor in real time. You’ll be able to collaborate with your classmates using screen-sharing software. One massive perk of live online training is that there is no commute, and you can learn Microsoft Project from anywhere. 

On-demand learning is usually the most affordable and easy to access. However, you lose the benefits of live instruction and interaction. Quality control can be more difficult with on-demand training: the videos may have become outdated or lack a straightforward course of study.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Microsoft Project?

Experts and users agree: Microsoft Project comes with a learning curve. You won’t be able to learn it by clicking around or watching a YouTube video. There are some fundamental concepts of Microsoft Project that you can learn by watching online videos and tutorials. However, if you plan to use Microsoft Project professionally, especially as a Project Manager, you will want to seek more structured training with an instructor.

Microsoft Project functions like a relational database: all the data you enter during the project planning phase must be entered correctly for your project to function correctly. Suppose all of the information isn’t entered correctly from the start. In that case, some of Project’s features won’t work, such as project schedule, financial plan, resource management, task delegation, monitoring, generating reports, and business intelligence. 

Having an instructor is a necessary factor in learning Microsoft Project. If you’re just learning, you’ll want an instructor to whom you can show your work so that you know you’re on the right track. 

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Microsoft Project

Several factors can affect the best way to learn Microsoft Project. One important thing to consider is your current schedule. If you have a current career and family obligations, you might need the flexibility of an on-demand course. You should consider a live course in-person or online if you want more personalized training. 

The most important thing is knowing what you want to use the skill for:

Free introductory courses are a great option if you want an overview of Microsoft Project and project management without fully committing. 

To gain a strong understanding of using Microsoft Project to manage projects, you should consider a structured course or bootcamp, such as NYIM’s Microsoft Project Level I. In this hands-on course, students master the basic features and functions of Microsoft Project and essential project management concepts. Students are guided through hands-on training in using Microsoft Project to define projects, track costs, allocate resources, manage tasks, delegate, and create and share a project plan. 

If you are interested in learning Microsoft Project because you want to start a new career as a Project Manager, you will want to take advanced courses in Microsoft Project. NYIM’s Microsoft Project Level II provides comprehensive mastery of using Microsoft Project’s advanced features to manage complex projects. Instructors guide students through using Microsoft Project to manage real-world projects, developing skills in executing a project, monitoring project progress, controlling project plans, generating reports, and customizing Microsoft Project. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to share on Linkedin and their Project Manager Resume. 

Suppose you’re serious about pursuing a new career as a Project Manager. In that case, you should also consider additional training in project management theories and concepts, such as the Project Management Bootcamp offered by Noble Desktop.

Learn Microsoft Project with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re an aspiring Project Manager, you’ll need to train in Microsoft Project. NYIM is a business, design, and coding school based in NYC. They offer tech courses and bootcamps both live online or at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. 

All of NYIM’s courses have guaranteed small class sizes and are taught by instructors who are experts in their industry. NYIM uses a unique hands-on approach in which instructors give a “micro-lecture” and then immediately guide students through applying what they learned using real-world projects. Graduates can take advantage of NYIM’s “free retake” option, which allows them to retake the course for free for up to one year to refresh or further develop skills. 

Live online courses are a great option if you don’t live in the NYC area. Because the class is happening live, it works exactly like an in-person class: you’ll be able to ask questions, interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time, and even receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. 

NYIM offers many options for learning Microsoft Project and the other programs in the Microsoft Office suite. In their Microsoft Project Level I course, students learn essential project management concepts and the fundamentals of using Microsoft Project to manage projects. Some of the Project skills that graduates will develop include defining projects, creating and organizing tasks, analyzing task relationships, creating a work breakdown structure, creating a resource calendar, resource management, creating baselines, sharing project plans, and finalizing project plans. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion, which is sharable on Linkedin and your Project Manager Resume. 

NYIM’s Microsoft Project Level II covers more advanced techniques, including managing multiple projects. Instructors guide students through hands-on projects to develop skills using Microsoft Project to execute a project, monitor progress, control a project plan, create progress reports, and use advanced customized features. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to share on their Project Manager resume or Linkedin. 

If you want to study project management or pursue project management education hours toward CAPM Certification, you should consider a course like Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp. A PMP-Certified instructor trains students in project management theories and methodologies to help them launch a new career as Project Managers. Topics covered include the Project Management LifeCycle, project scope, project planning, resource management, risk management, financial management, team management, and becoming a professional Project Manager.